Trauma and fractures Flashcards
polytrauma definition
trauma with more than on of; major long bone pelvis chest abdo region
…fractures
treatment of open fractures (5)
broad spectrum antibiotics (flucloxacillin, gentamicin, metronidazole) sterile dressing tetanus injection debridement surgery surgery to fix fracture
when describing a fractures displacement and angulation, which fragment are you referring to (distal or proximal)
distal
splintage examples
temporary plaster
sling
what is ORIF and when is it used
open reduction and internal fixation
surgery with intramedullary nails, pins, plates, screws etc
used for displaced intra articular fractures
when would you do joint replacement for a fracture
periarticular fracture with risk of AVN
what is external fixation and when would you do it
external brace with nails into bone
if there is swelling or unstable fracture, need swelling to be down to do surgery
is the bone remodeling rate the same in all bones
no changes depending on site
is bone remodeling quicker or slower in kids
quicker
when does primary bone healing take place (size of fracture + 2 examples)
fracture <1mm
hairline fractures
fractures fixed with screws
what cell is involved in primary bone healing
osteoblasts
what do osteoblasts do in primary bone healing
form a bridge over the fracture
when does secondary bone healing take place (instead of primary bone healing)
size of fracture
fracture >1mm
requirements for secondary bone healing (4)
oxygen
nutrients
stem cells
little movement (stabilisation with cast)
what are the 4 stages of secondary bone healing
- inflammation
- soft callus/bridging callus
- hard callus
- remodelling
in secondary bone healing, what cell is involved in stage 2. soft callus/bridging callus
what do they form
chondroblasts
cartilage
in secondary bone healing, what cell is involved in stage 3. hard callus
osteoblasts
in secondary bone healing, what happens in stage 4. remodelling
smoothing of bone
what is the most serious complication of fractures in limbs
compartment syndrome
what is compartment syndrome
broken bone = swelling of tissue = increased pressure in a limb compartment
what is the consequence of increased pressure in a compartment in compartment syndrome
occludes venous drainage = muscle ischaemia
how does compartment syndrome present (5)
severe pain, worse on stretching of muscle swollen limb tender limb loss of peripheral pulse cold
treatment of compartment syndrome
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
fasciotomy - open fascia to release pressure, leave open for a few days then fix problem
early local complications of fractures (5)
vascular injury nerve injury compartment syndrome necrosis blistering
early systemic complications of fractures (5)
hypovolaemia shock ARDS SIRS multi organ dysfunction syndrome
late local complications of fractures (3)
non union
volkmanns ischaemic contracture
complex regional pain syndrome
late systemic complications of fractures (1)
pulmonary embolism
what is volkmanns ischaemic contracture
aetiology
fibrotic contracture of muscle after fracture
aetiology - missed compartment syndrome
what is complex regional pain syndrome
swelling
stiffness
exaggerated pain response
in a sight of previous fracture
aetiology of atrophic non union after fracture
not enough blood supply
too big gap
drugs
infection
NOT MOVEMENT
aetiology of hypertrophic non union after fracture
movement or infection
think HYPER kids move a lot
are kids bones better or worse at remodeling than adults
better
what is a broken posterior rib in a kid a sign of
non accidental injury
‘bucket handle fracture’
‘corner joint fracture’ in kids
non accidental injury
long bone injury in kids
non accidental injury
if you ?non accidental injury in a kid <2, what investigation do you do
full skeletal survey
what is the classification of fractures in kids
salter harris classification
type I salter harris fracture
in kids
S traight along growth plate
(remember I = S in SALTEr)
type II salter harris fracture
in kids
A bove the growth plate (along the top then into metaphysis)
(remember II = A in SALTEr)
type III salter harris fracture
in kids
L ower than growth plate (goes along growth plate then down into epiphysis)
(remember III = L in SALTEr)
type IV salter harris fracture
in kids
T hrough growth plate (doesnt travel along is, cuts through it)
(remember IV = T in SALTEr)
type V salter harris fracture
in kids E rosion (compression on growth plate)
(remember V = E in SALTEr)
greenstick fracture in kids (xray appearance)
where
when one side of the bone breaks but the otherside is intact
in ulna
tores fracture/buckle fracture in kids (xray appearance)
where
looks like a little nob on radius
where is a monteggia fracture
midshaft of ulna
where is a galeazzi fracture
midshaft of radius
gAleazzi = rAdius
which 2 fractures of the forearm are closely associated (if you get one youll probs get the other)
monteggia and galeazzi fracture
what joint is commonly affected in both galeazzia and monteggia fractures
distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUJ)
aetiology of supracondylar fracture
fall onto outstretched hand (FOOSH)
what nerve is commonly affected in a supracondylar fracture
how can its function be tested
median nerve
make ‘ok’ sign
aetiology femoral shaft fracture in kid <2
non accidental injury
treatment of femoral shaft fracture in <6
stabilise
treatment of femoral shaft fracture in >6
intramedullary nail (flexible 6-16, non flexible for >16)
are dislocations more common in males or females
why
females
more lax ligaments